HUDDERSFIELD Town produced three super strikes to serve up a 3-2 home success over Southend United – but had to endure a string of late scares.
Manager Eoin Hand’s side looked to be in control and coasting at three goals up after 55 minutes, but a late flurry by the Essex visitors caused plenty of tension on the terraces.
Town had gone ahead after 21 minutes when leading scorer Craig Maskell grabbed his 15th goal of the campaign, but it was not until early in the second period that they looked to have killed off the contest.
Seven minutes into the second half midfielder Andy May produced a defence splitting pass that allowed Junior Bent to race in on goal and score and three minutes later Paul Sansome was again beaten in the Shrimpers goal when Mick Byrne finished off an excellent flowing move.
However, it was only three minutes later that Southend were thrown a lifeline when a ball played back towards defence by Maskell merely found United’s David Crown in what would otherwise have been in offside position and although Steve Hardwick in the Town goal saved the striker’s first effort he could do nothing to prevent the rebound being tucked away.
Boosted by their good fortune Southend improved and 12 minutes from time defender Roy McDonough headed in to leave Town facing a nervy closing spell.
Town: Hardwick, Trevitt, Hutchings, May, O’Doherty, Mitchell, O’Regan, Bent, Byrne, Maskell, Cecere. Subs: Tucker, Marsden.
Southend: Sansome, Martin, Johnson, Butler, Westley, Brush, Hall, McDonough, Crown, Bennett, Ling. Subs: Edinburgh, Short.
Referee: Joe Worrall (Warrington)
Attendance: 6,403.
